Buying a home and don't know how anything works
- Thread starter miss direct
- Start date
miss direct
misfungled
Going to view a flat tomorrow. If I like it, am I supposed to make an offer there and then? How long does a viewing actually take? (I have a lesson to teach not too long after my slotted time).
bimble
floofy
No, you’re not expected to make an offer there & then. Not advisable.
see the place, could take 10 mins could be half an hour entirely up to you.
If you like it think more afterwards, do research into the asking price etc, before making any offer.
Epona
Radar 2006-2020, Sonic 2006-2022, Jakey 2007-2024
No you won't be expected to make an offer there and then, you'd usually view several properties and think about it, maybe have second viewings of those on a shortlist. The estate agent will try to impose an urgency on you and will let you know there are other interested parties - but do NOT be rushed and do not be tempted to stray from your budget - it would be inadvisable to spend less time viewing and thinking about buying a property than a pair of shoes!
In terms of the viewing, take as long as you feel you need, again do not be rushed, look into cupboards to see how big they are etc.
Measure your bed and take a tape measure with you, it's easy to be confused about room size if rooms are either empty or full of someone elses clutter.
Ask whether any appliances will be included with the kitchen - as this can vary largely depending upon whether items are free-standing or built in, even if free-standing some folks will leave appliances if it helps to smooth a sale through
In terms of the viewing, take as long as you feel you need, again do not be rushed, look into cupboards to see how big they are etc.
Measure your bed and take a tape measure with you, it's easy to be confused about room size if rooms are either empty or full of someone elses clutter.
Ask whether any appliances will be included with the kitchen - as this can vary largely depending upon whether items are free-standing or built in, even if free-standing some folks will leave appliances if it helps to smooth a sale through
bimble
floofy
Nothing is happening. It’s impossible to tell much about any area right now. Everywhere is quiet, all of the time.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
People are right that you should think about it, although with my place there were several other people who had expressed interest and I fell in love with it and knew immediately that it was where I wanted to end up because I'd not seen anywhere quite like it.
I told the estate agent I wanted it and he phoned the owner in Ireland who was thinking of putting it back on the market because the last people had tried to force the price down to some silly level. I also gave him the full asking price and the owner agreed on the phone.
I told the estate agent I wanted it and he phoned the owner in Ireland who was thinking of putting it back on the market because the last people had tried to force the price down to some silly level. I also gave him the full asking price and the owner agreed on the phone.
Epona
Radar 2006-2020, Sonic 2006-2022, Jakey 2007-2024
Yeah I was going to suggest an evening wander around the area/street to make sure it felt safe and the local pub's regular karaoke sessions weren't making the windows rattle, but all that is irrelevant right now - which is difficult when buying a home!
miss direct
misfungled
Taxi went past the street this evening (was hoping he'd go down it past the property) and it looked as quiet as everywhere else on a cold pandemic evening. I am very distracted and stressed at the moment so don't want to be harried and hurried into anything (but am also aware that there's not a lot coming up that meets my requirements and the market is moving really quickly right now). As a first time buyer who's not affected by the stamp duty thing, maybe I should relax a little (?)
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Aren't most of these horrifically unrealistic? Either investors or those plucky couples who've give up everything to build s house with a budget of only a million quid and a degree in architecture?
Epona
Radar 2006-2020, Sonic 2006-2022, Jakey 2007-2024
Yep, it's very stressful. Of course if you view somewhere and it looks like everything you could possibly want, then in England you can put in an offer as soon as you feel comfortable to do so (be aware though that in other countries including parts of the UK, an offer has a different legal status than in England) - do make sure to get a full survey done as soon as possible after that though - to make sure that there is nothing majorly wrong with the place.
bimble
floofy
miss direct have you started looking for a solicitor yet?
It’s not urgent but you’ll need one once you decide to go ahead and start the process. They’ll all really busy at the moment I think, the conveyancing solicitors, with sales that people want completing before the end of the stamp duty holiday, but if you can find one that you feel comfortable with that would be good.
Estate agents will be keen to recommend solicitors to you and I think it’s a much better idea to ignore their suggestions and find your own.
It’s not urgent but you’ll need one once you decide to go ahead and start the process. They’ll all really busy at the moment I think, the conveyancing solicitors, with sales that people want completing before the end of the stamp duty holiday, but if you can find one that you feel comfortable with that would be good.
Estate agents will be keen to recommend solicitors to you and I think it’s a much better idea to ignore their suggestions and find your own.
Epona
Radar 2006-2020, Sonic 2006-2022, Jakey 2007-2024
I went with a conveyancing solicitor recommended by my mortgage lender (Halifax) and they were so fucking inept that they tried to put my exes name on the documents for my new flat twice, tried to put my name on the documents for the place that he was buying, and completely ballsed up the lease for the flat I am in now - to the point that the council were not notified that I had bought the flat until I had been living here for over 5 years. I am still dreading finding out that my name might not actually be on the deeds to the flat.
So yeah, get your own solicitor, make sure they are working for you rather than just botching everything through on some contract for someone else
So yeah, get your own solicitor, make sure they are working for you rather than just botching everything through on some contract for someone else
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hash tag
Books, not bombs
No, not all. Please don't ask me names of the programmes. There are one or two where people buy properties and knock down prices, doing them up cheaply with a view to quick sales. They normally show before and after, show problems, costs, budgets etc.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Are you back yet? How was it? Tell, tell
hash tag
Books, not bombs
There are still some very noisy households around, lockdown or no lockdown. Families rowing and fighting, playing loud music, noisy DIY......
muscovyduck
Good IT skills and food hygiene competent
Also worth noting at the moment we're all like 10000% more sensitive to home environments because of lockdown. Once all this ends you're unlikely to care as much imo
miss direct
misfungled
I'm back, and I really liked it. There was someone viewing it ahead of me, and someone waiting to view after. I liked it more that I expected to. WHAT DO I DO NOW?
(And does it matter that I don't have access to the cash right away? We have a completion date of next Friday..)
(And does it matter that I don't have access to the cash right away? We have a completion date of next Friday..)
Rationally? Go and see a bunch of places, compare them, make a spreadsheet, etc etc.
Emotionally? If you love it, offer them a couple % under the max you'd be willing to pay and crack on. Best of luck.
No, you don't need the cash right now, you won't need to pay for anything other than solicitors/surveys etc (~5k max) until date of exchange of contracts, absolute minimum a month or two.
Some agents get all weird about showing proof of this and that. I've never personally had a problem with just confidently stating "I have a budget of X" and rejecting all of their offers for financing and whatnot.
bimble
floofy
That’s good news miss direct happy it went well.
Try not to get stressed out now is the main thing, don’t feel pressured & remember you’re in a great position.
Are there any other properties really nearby to it that are very similar in size and age ? If so that’s helpful, for doing comparisons, figuring out if they’re asking the right money for it and so on.
Try not to get stressed out now is the main thing, don’t feel pressured & remember you’re in a great position.
Are there any other properties really nearby to it that are very similar in size and age ? If so that’s helpful, for doing comparisons, figuring out if they’re asking the right money for it and so on.
Cid
Proper break this time
Sit down, have a cup of tea. Think over everything you saw, write down some pluses and minuses. Think through the budget, think about whether the area is right, whether transport is good... whether it’s going to hold value etc. And try and think through whether there’s anything you need to spend on it... also how well the quality of all the stuff in there compares to similar properties.
hash tag
Books, not bombs
Completion date Friday; that is when you get your cash I hope and not when you need to buy by?
You should think about it and you should see the others you have lined up, and try not to over invest.
How do you go about choosing a solicitor for preparing a selling pack, energy cert thing, this would be for auction. Do they have to be in the local area of the property? What's the ball park cost?
Sorry jumping in again but since this was in new posts and I got an email about house stuff earlier, it's on my mind. And you lot seem to know what you're talking about...
Sorry jumping in again but since this was in new posts and I got an email about house stuff earlier, it's on my mind. And you lot seem to know what you're talking about...
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
It's probably more important that they're local to you in case you need to sign anything, and that they are responsive to calls and emails. Best bet is to ask around for recommendations locally. They seem to have got a bit better at signing stuff remotely but there are some solicitors stuck in the dark ages on this and there's nothing worse than finding out with 2 hours notice you need to get somewhere 100 miles away to sign a piece of paper otherwise the sale is going to fall through.
bellaozzydog
rolling turds in glitter
google all the local solicitors/conveyancers knock up a template quote request
I look at how fast they respond, how accurately they read my request, (what stamp they calculate for instance) some really fuck it up incredibly, have a look at their website check how many staff they have
You’ll need to supply some basic info, house price, is it first/second/Buy to let (this is to calculate stamp if any)
Any solicitor needs to de conflict so worth knowing who the vendors solicitor is so you don’t try and hire them
I fish around for online review, personal recommendations are probably worth taking up
ultimately they all charge roughly the same give or take a couple of hundred quid
I’m just about to ditch a conveyancing solicitor because a solicitor in the same firm doing different work for me absolutely fucked me on billing.
sometimes going in and having a look at their office tells you all you need to know. Too hot, too cold, smelly, files up to the ceilings scattered on desks everywhere half drunk solicitors
I used to see a partner solicitor i used for some certifying of documents in the local boozer shitters whenever I went inI sound like a fussy bastard but first impressions count and you’ll be annoyed if you give a firm the benefit of the doubt and they are slow and careless with your stuff
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
If you're on the local Facebook group you could ask for recommendations, you can also just Google local solicitors.
Personally I like to use a medium sized local firm - you don't want to have your stuff held up because old Mr Jones is off sick, but conversely you don't want to go to some awful conglomerate like solicitors 4U where there's no local knowledge, and no one will give a shit about your move because each stage gets done by whoever has room on their desk and you'll spend 90% of your time chasing them.
I'd try to avoid firms that claim to do everything - criminal, family, property, wills, employment etc... because they'll be shit at something, and you don't want it to be you.
Most solicitors will do a fixed price deal - and it's worth asking a few random estate agents who they would use or not use. Some relationship would be needed to get a decent answer, so go on a few viewings with different agents just so the office know your name and know you.
hash tag
Books, not bombs
Avoid a solicitor in a large town, especially the likes of London, where they charge so much more than one in the sticks.
Conveyancing should be easy, that said, if it goes wrong it could be costly! If we were not in lock down, I would also suggest interviewing them.
Our last solicitor was in the wilds of Surrey, to avoid the London costs. His reputation was good, his offices looked fine, had about 10+ staff
and when interviewing him, he seemed the sort that was ballsy and not someone to mess with, also appeared honourable, someone who if
they said they would do something, they would do it!
Conveyancing should be easy, that said, if it goes wrong it could be costly! If we were not in lock down, I would also suggest interviewing them.
Our last solicitor was in the wilds of Surrey, to avoid the London costs. His reputation was good, his offices looked fine, had about 10+ staff
and when interviewing him, he seemed the sort that was ballsy and not someone to mess with, also appeared honourable, someone who if
they said they would do something, they would do it!
bimble
floofy
What made you like it more than you expected to miss direct?
miss direct
misfungled
It was bigger than I expected. I dont trust photos on rightmove. It also had a nice view from one side. Lots of storage space. Neighbours looked decent. The only noise was an occasional car, a bit of construction thats nearly finished, and lots of bird song.
Plus the owners have a whole bird feeding stand in the garden/yard bit and the estate agent was telling me that there are often squirrels too. Kitchen was nice and big. Outside storage for my bike. Oh and owners have a dog which made me think I could have a pet and maybe even bring my lovely cat over from Istanbul one day.
I could just imagine living there.
Plus the owners have a whole bird feeding stand in the garden/yard bit and the estate agent was telling me that there are often squirrels too. Kitchen was nice and big. Outside storage for my bike. Oh and owners have a dog which made me think I could have a pet and maybe even bring my lovely cat over from Istanbul one day.
I could just imagine living there.
miss direct
misfungled
Things I didn't like so much - bath was midget size. Really low. No mixer taps in bathroom.
Front entrance has a building light outside and opens onto the same space as the communal entrance so not sure about the light and noise of it opening and closing.
Front entrance has a building light outside and opens onto the same space as the communal entrance so not sure about the light and noise of it opening and closing.
